Image forming method

Abstract

An image forming method including preparing a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer on a substrate, the dye layer containing a sublimable dye, preparing a decorative seal having a seal base material on a release sheet, the seal base material having a layered structure of an adhesive layer and a film layered in this order from the release sheet side, the film containing a resin having a dyeing affinity to the sublimable dye contained in the dye layer, and the film having an elongation percentage of not less than 150% and not more than 400% when determined by a test method in conformity with JIS-K-7127:1999, and thermally transferring the sublimable dye in the dye layer onto the seal base material by sublimation thermal transfer process, thereby forming a thermal transfer image on the seal base material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is based on and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-225898, filed on Nov. 18, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSERS BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR UNDER 37 C.F.R. 1.77(B) (6)[0002]An image forming method according to the present invention and decorative sheets using the image forming method were disclosed and sold on Sep. 10, 2015, by Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd., to a third-party company, SEGA Interactive Co., Ltd. Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd. obtained the image forming method and the decorative seals from the present inventors, Shun Uehara and Hiroyuki Yamashita who, during the course of their employment, developed the image forming method and the decorative sheet that their employer began selling on Sep. 10, 2015.TECHNICAL FIELD[0003]The present invention relates to an image forming method, specifically, the p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for creating a clear image on a decorative seal using a sublimation thermal transfer process. This results in a high-quality image that is easy to read and can be used for decorative purposes.

Problems solved by technology

However, when using a material having a curvature as the transfer image-receiving material, it is difficult to stick the seal base material on the transfer image-receiving material without crinkle, and there is a room for improvement in this point with respect to the decorative seal which has been proposed up to now.

Under the current circumstances, however, these aspects have not been studied enough.

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